Posts with tag way-of-the-brew

Editor's Note: Please consume responsibly; these beer recipes are for Way of the Brew fans age 21 and above.

Who knew that there was such a widespread culture and fandom for homebrewing? It took me until last year to discover that brewing your own beer, ale or mead isn't difficult at all, and you can get started without a burdensome investment of time or equipment. Equally delightful has been the discovery that I already know quite a few homebrewers; the hobby seems to be a natural fit among those of us who enjoy fantasy, gaming, roleplaying, and related revelry.

I knew all things ale would be a natural fit for Well Fed Buff, but I also knew I wouldn't have room here for a homebrewing play-by-play. Instead, we can cover how to get started with homebrewing, review some seasonal craft brews, and talk about cooking with beer -- amusingly enough, an accurate reflection of the reasons you might want to pursue the Way of the Brew in Azeroth. "Note that unlike the other ways, this one doesn't provide a specific stat and the only thing that gives stats are the banquets," writes Wowhead commenter Bardiches. "It's honestly for anyone who loves being drunk or wants to make some cheap banquets." ... Umm, we're all a bunch of WoW: Mists of Pandaria fans who love to cook, eat, enjoy a brew, and game around here. Perfect!

What I've got for you this week, then, is a basic roadmap for anyone interested in learning more about homebrewing. Once we get that ball rolling, I'll share a few seasonal brews worth investigating this fall and divulge my not-so-secret secret of savory slow cooking. Join us in the comments afterwards to discuss your own favorite homebrew advice and share your favorite ale-augmented recipes.

You are not alone. The new branches of cooking in Pandaria are overwhelming for a lot of people. But remember the advice of various pandaren NPCs -- "Slow down" -- and don't try to rush everything at once. You will be Master of the Ways, someday. Just take it one punch at a time.

Know that you've already done a lot. You've leveled your cooking to 525. You've learned how the Ways work and perhaps you've chosen a Way already. It's now time to gather the ingredients until you master those Ways.

How do I cook that? Let me count the Ways.
I cook that with a Pot, an Oven, Grill,
Steaming, Brewing, with hoak and Wok, zen skill
With meats, fish, veggies from my soil arrays.
I cook that rice pudding and turtle braised
With help from my bee-eff-effs at Halfhill.
I cook that bloodied, as toons seek for kills;
I cook that patiently, with Pagle's praise.
I cook that with a focus I often use
In my endgame and with my guildmates phased.
I cook that for a dish I must not lose
For my buff -- I cook that with the great grasp,
Chaos of all my taps! -- and if say Blues,
I shall cook that better in Legion's clasp.

My apologies to Elizabeth Barrett Browning. I haven't attempted to write a sonnet in five or six years. But the first line got stuck in my head after I summarized for my guildmates how exactly the 525-600 cooking process works.